St. Louis has snagged the honor of hosting the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships, marking the city's second chance to shine on the ice since 2006, U.S. Figure Skating confirmed. From Jan. 5-11, at the Enterprise Center, the event is set to be the crowning qualifier before the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team heads off to the Winter Olympic Games Milano-Cortina 2026.
Sam Auxier, U.S. Figure Skating president and acting CEO, voiced his excitement, stating, "We are excited for the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships to return to St. Louis, exactly 20 years after the 2006 Olympic Team was named in this same city." He emphasized the thrilling, pressure-packed nature of the U.S. Championships, especially in an Olympic year, as noted in a statement obtained by NHL.com. The Enterprise Center, located downtown, is touted as a state-of-the-art sports facility, promising an exceptional experience for both fans and athletes.
The St. Louis Sports Commission, heralded as responsible for bringing this prestigious skating event back to the region, will form the local organizing committee. The committee will be co-chaired by none other than Jackie Joyner-Kersee, St. Louis' most decorated Olympian, and Frank Viverito, who approaches the task with 27 years of leadership under his belt as the former president of the commission. This was highlighted in details shared by St Louis Business Journal.
The 2026 championships come 20 years after St. Louis first hosted the event, which went down in the annals of figure skating history with names like Sasha Cohen and Johnny Weir claiming national titles. This time around, eyes will be on stars such as Amber Glenn and Ilia Malinin, and the pairs team of Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who, according to a press release, have recently claimed gold at the International Skating Union Grand Prix in France. Eager fans can mark their calendars for January when all-session tickets are set to go on sale.
Chris Zimmerman, president and CEO of the St. Louis Blues and Enterprise Center, expressed his anticipation for the event, telling NHL.com, “Having the best skaters in the nation compete for national championships and a place on the U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team at Enterprise Center is tremendously exciting for us and our region.” NBC will broadcast the event, with all championship events streamed live on Peacock, providing comprehensive coverage for those at home and abroad.
